Sneezing When You Drink Wine? 5 Common Culprits and How to Avoid Them

Some people may be more sensitive to the tannins than others, making them more likely to experience this reaction after drinking a glass of red wine. To reduce the likelihood of sneezing from red wine, some experts recommend choosing wines with lower levels of tannins. This can be done by avoiding heavily-oaked wines or those with a higher alcohol content.

Allergy symptoms that alcohol makes worse

If you have an intolerance or sensitivity to any of these ingredients, you’ll likely react to drinking beer. Clear alcohol like vodka and gin contain less histamine and sulfites, so are less likely to cause a reaction. This incomplete processing of the alcohol can cause the body to react by producing symptoms that reflect an allergy to the alcohol.

Beer Sneezes: What Do They Mean?

Alcohol has been known to cause dilation of blood vessels, including those in the nasal passages, leading to congestion and potentially triggering sneezing. Unfortunately, nothing can prevent reactions to alcohol or ingredients in alcoholic beverages. To avoid a reaction, avoid alcohol or the particular substance that causes your reaction. When ALDH is absent from your body, too much of histamine will circulate in blood which leads to problems like inflammation. Your nasal chambers can fall prey to inflammation and itching leading to and problems related with stuffy nose or sinus congestion.

Why Do I Sneeze When I Drink Alcohol?

As the exact cause of alcohol-induced sneezing is not fully understood, there is no foolproof way to prevent it. However, you can try avoiding specific alcoholic beverages or reducing your alcohol consumption to see if it makes a difference. Yes, certain ingredients in alcoholic beverages, such as sulfites in wine or hops in beer, can be more likely to induce sneezing in susceptible individuals. Stuffy nose problem is also termed as sinus congestion which often occurs due to presence of preservatives like sulfur dioxide.

Drinks That Are Most Likely To Make You Sneeze

An alcohol intolerance is commonly mistaken for an alcohol allergy and is often misdiagnosed. If your body is unable to remove acetaldehyde from the body, symptoms like congestion, flushing, headaches, and more can sneezing after drinking alcohol persist. The symptoms are similar to those caused by histamine intolerance and can easily be confused with allergy-like symptoms. This condition can also make pre-existing asthma worse, so it’s important to keep an eye on your symptoms. Restricted breathing or worsening asthma can start for some with only one alcoholic beverage. Headaches caused by alcohol intolerance may remind you of headaches felt during a hangover.

• If you react to the tannins in red wine, then you might find it easier on your system to choose white and sparkling wines.
• Whether you only have the occasional glass of wine at dinner or frequently enjoy late nights out, you’re sure to learn valuable tips to nip post-drinking nasal congestion in the bud.
• Such reactions can include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
• Many times, some allergic reactions can make you more sensitive towards alcohol intake.
• It is not known for certain why some people experience sinus congestion after drinking red wine, but it is believed to be due to a combination of factors.

Allergies

While talking about the breaking down of alcohol in body, there is what is Oxford House an enzyme called as aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). This enzyme is produced from a gene but when, this gene is absent in the body, there is a lack of enzymes which leads to breaking down of alcohol but in an incomplete way. If you’ve ever wondered – why does my face get red when I drink – this could be why. People should note, however, that its authors do not propose that this means that alcohol causes allergies. Researchers estimate that 8% of the world’s population has a defective ALDH2 gene. This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis.